Paper document validation apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for detecting authenticity of paper currency or documents being printed with intaglio type printing so that the printing raises bumps or contours on the surface of the document. Authentication is made by detecting a predetermined section of the document which has uniformly spaced bumps or contours from the surface thereof commonly formed by parallel uniformly spaced lines by some type of mechanical transducer, normally in the configuration of a vertically sensitive phonograph needle. Relative movement is provided between the needle and the document at a uniform speed so that an audio frequency is detected by the needle moving over the bumps or contours. If the audio frequency is within a proper band, it actuates an audio sensitive reed. The vibration of the reed closes a circuit that indicates authentication and payout, or any other output signal is then generated.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Jack E.Bayha Chesterland, Ohio 21Appl.No. 815,926

[22] Filed Apr. 14, 1969 [45] Patented June 8, 197] [73] AssigneeARDAC/USA Incorporated Geauga County, Ohio [54] PAPER DOCUMENTVALIDATION APPARATUS Primary ExaminerS. Clement Swisher Att0r'neyOldham& Oldham ABSTRACT: An apparatus for detecting authenticity of papercurrency or documents being printed with intaglio type printing so thatthe printing raises bumps or contours on the surface of the document.Authentication is made by detecting a predetermined section of thedocument which has uniformly spaced bumps or contours from the surfacethereof commonly formed by parallel uniformly spaced lines by some typeof mechanical transducer, normally in the configuration of a verticallysensitive phonograph needle. Relative movement is provided between theneedle and the document at a uniform speed so that an audio frequency isdetected by the needle moving over the bumps or contours. If the audiofrequency is within a proper band, it actuates an audio sensitive reed.The vibration of the reed closes a circuit that indicates authenticationand payout, or any other output signal is then generated.

PAY OUT APPARATUS 1 PAPER DOCUMENT VALIDATION APPARATUS PRIOR ART Thereare many ways now in use to establish the validity of paper currency ordocuments, and they range from the use of magnetics, to actualmeasurement by infrared radiation of ink thickness, which is thetechnique described in'my U.S. Pat. No. 3,457,42l. In the course ofexperimentation in the field of paper currency validation, my effortshave been directed to the end of establishing that the document has beenprinted by the intaglio process, and has a thick layer of ink. In thisintaglio process, the ink is carried beneath the surface of the printingplate, in grooves cut by hand or machine, and thus is capable ofproviding a heavy layer of ink on the document or currency, and hence abump or measurable contour. This is in direct contrast to the type ofprinting obtained with reproducing machines or by letter press or offsetprocesses, where there is no appreciable or measurable ink buildup.

Attempts have been made in the past by the petitioner to utilire theprinted information on the surface of the document by scanning it orscratching it, or the like. My prior art techniques suffer from theircomplete inability to difi'erentiate the signal from the noise ofscratching the paper, relative movement of the parts, etc. In otherwords, proper signal to noise ratios to obtain any worthwhile signalinformation has been substantially impossible. To the best of myknowledge, no one has ever provided a successful electromechanicaltransducer readout to indicate validation of US. paper currency, or anydocument printed by the intaglio printing process.

Therefore, it is the general object of my invention to provide anapparatus utilizing an electromechanical transducer to provide documentvalidation for documents printed with the intaglio printing process, orhaving sufficiently raised ink characteristics on the surface of thedocument that such characteristics can be detected with a suitableelectromechanical transducer.

These and other objects of my invention are achieved by during therelative movement therebetween, and an audio frequency sensitive switchactuated by the proper signal from the transducer means to indicate anauthentication.

For a better understanding of the invention reference should be had tothe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a block diagram schematic illustration of the structural andcircuit components necessary to achieve operation of the preferredembodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged illustration of the surface area of adocument printed by the intaglio process and showing the relationship ofthe electromechanical transducer to the bumps and contours on thesurface thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a view ofa piece of paper currency illustrating the probableareas of the currency where the electromechanical transducer will engagethe document to measure uniformly spaced lines.

In effect, the objects of the invention are achieved by combining asimple phonograph cartridge with a predetermined uniform relative motionof the paper currency being examined to the cartridge, with an extremelyhigh Q" electromechanical filter, known as a resonant reed relay.Utilizing these elements as described hereinbelow, l find it possible todetermine accurately that a document is of the precise design, and isprinted by the intaglioprocess, and maybe assumed to be genuine with ahigh order of security. The device described hereinafter with relationto the drawings is of value in many instances where my infraredtechnique defined in my US. Pat. No. 3,457,421 may lack definition dueto an absence of absorption of infrared radiation in some transparentinks. My device described hereinbelow is applicable to well over percentof higher denominations of paper currency now in use throughout theworld.

With reference to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 of thedrawings, the numeral 10 indicates a document-carrying frame which isdriven between fixed stops l2 and 14 by engagement with a screw 16rotatably driven by a motor 18. Any other suitable mechanism to effectrelative movement of the frame 10 would meet the objects of theinvention. Appropriate microswitches 20 and 22 engage with the stops l2arid 14, respectively, upon movement of the frame 10 to either stop orreverse the drive of motor 18 as selectively desired to control thetranslating movement of frame 10 with respect to the screw 16. The motor18 is preferably of the synchronous type and is driven from anappropriate alternating current source 24 so that the movement of frame10 is as nearly uniform as possible between the stops l2 and 14.

I contemplate that any suitable structure to support a document 30 onthe top of frame 10 as by engaging with a suitable bed 32, for example,would be satisfactory. However, a tray, slide, or other bill-acceptingmechanism to be carried by frame 10 would work quite satisfactorily.

The objects of the invention are achieved by mounting anelectromechanical transducer 34, such as a phonograph cartridge, forexample,'which is of the vertical responsive type,or one for playinghill and dale recordings so that a transducer pickup 36 carried on arm38 will engage with the surface of document 30 lightly in the manner ofa phonograph needle with a record, as the document 30 moves beneath itupon the translation of frame 10 between stops l2 and 14.

For the purposes of illustration, assume a speed of frame 10 of about 3inches per second, and a line repetition rate on the document 30 oflines per lineal inch, the cartridge 34 will present a signal to anamplifier 40 of 300 Hz. This signal upon proper amplification drives arelay coil 42. A reed of spring steel or other magnetically affectedmaterial, which has a mechanically resonant period of 300 Hz., and isindicated by numeral 44, is appropriately suspended near coil 42 asillustrated. Due to its natural predetermined period of 300 Hz., thereed 44 will be readily excited into resonance by a 300 Hz. signalinduced into coil 42. This type of reed 44 is not readily effected byany other frequency, except frequencies of extremely high amplitude.Typically, such a reed can be made to resonate at a center frequency ofplus or minus 1 Hz. It can also reject other frequencies of extremeamplitudes, when they are displaced as little as 3 to 5 Hz. from thecenter frequency. A reed of this type is available to the public, and-atypical reed would be one made by W. S. Deans Co. of Gardena, Calif.

This resonant vibration of reed 44 then causes reed 44 to impinge oncontact 46 closing an electrical circuit through lines 48 and 50 toproperly actuate a payout or authentication apparatus indicated by block52. It should be understood that any suitable device can be actuated bythe closing of the circuit between wires '48 and 50 by the vibration ofreed 44 and its engagement with contact 46.

FIG. 2 illustrates a greatly enlarged view of the security 30 showingthe raised bumps or contours 30a on the surface thereof. Preferably, themeasurement of these raised bumps is in the portrait background sectionindicated by numeral 3I in FIG. 3 as the bumps caused by the lines inthis background section are uniformly spaced'and parallel to each other.I have found that the needle of the electrotransducer pickup 36 veryeasily slides overthe contours or bumps 30a and because of its of U.S.paper currency, for example, by effecting the relative movement ineither the vertical or horizontal direction between the document and thetransducer needle pickup. l have found that exact registration with aparticular path with respect to the document is not necessary as l allowsome floating relationship of the cartridge 34 and needle 36 so that ittends to center itself between the lines which run parallel to thedirection of movement of frame so as not to be disturbed by those lines,but to center itself and only read those lines which extend transverselyto the direction of movement of the needle 36 with respect to thedocument 30.

Thus, it should be seen that the objects of my invention have beenachieved by providing a frequency pickup with an electromechanicaltransducer achieved by the uniform movement of a document with respectto the transducer, or vice versa. An extremely high signal to noiseratio is possible because the tone causes resonant vibration of apredetermined reed of steel suspended near the coil. The vibration ofthe reed of steel will only occur if the frequency generated is within apredetermined bandwidth. Hence, an extremely high signal to noise ratiois achieved. The vibration of the reed closes the circuit and indicatesan authentication.

While in accordance with the patent statutes only the best knownembodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described indetail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto or thereby, but that the inventive scope is defined inthe appended claims.

What i claim is: 1. Apparatus to detect authenticity of paper documentshaving at least one section of uniformlyspaced surface bumps orcontours, which apparatus comprises a frame defining a testing area,electromechanical transducer means positioned within the testing areaadapted to engage the surface of a document entering therein and producea signal indication thereof,

means to carry a document and effect relative uniform movement betweenthe document and the transducer means in the testing area,

means to generate an audio frequency signal from the signal indicationof the transducer means, and

an electromechanical filter including an audio frequency sensitiveswitch actuated by a proper frequency signal from the last said means toindicate an authentication.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 where the means to carry the documentand effect relative uniform movement comprises a document-carryingframe, a screw threadably received by the frame, motor means torotatably drive the screw to effect translational uniform movement ofthe frame relative to the screw, and means to effect reversible controland stopping action of the motor occasioned by the movement of theframe.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 where the electromechanicaltransducer means is a piezoelectric needle pickup which includes anamplifier to effect amplification of the electrical signal from thepiezoelectric needle pickup.

4. Apparatus to detect authenticity of paper documents having at leastone section of uniformly spaced surface bumps or contours, whichapparatus comprises a frame defining a testing area, electromechanicaltransducer means positioned within the testing area adapted to engagethe surface of a document entering therein and produce a signalindication thereof,

means to carry a document and effect relative uniform movement betweenthe document and the transducer means in the testing area,

means to generate a frequency signal from the signal indication of thetransducer means, and

a frequency sensitive switch actuated by a proper frequency signal fromthe last said means to indicate an authentication, thefrequency-sensitive switch being a reed which has a mechanical resonantperiod so as to be readily excited into resonancebyapro er frequency sinal. 5. An apparatus according to c arm 4 where t e reed is made ofspring steel, and its natural predetermined period of resonance isdetermined by the rate of relative movement between the document and thepiezoelectric pickup needle, and the spacing of the lines in theportrait background section of the type document which is to be engagedby the pickup needle.

6. Apparatus to detect authenticity of a test article having at leastone section of uniformly spaced bumps or contours on the surface thereofwhich are at least slightly raised with respect to the surface thereofwhich comprises a frame to carry a test article, an electromechanicaltransducer means having a pickup needle adapted to engage the surface ofthe test article, means to effect relative uniform movement between theframe and the transducer means to have the pickup needle pass over theuniformly spaced bumps or contours on the surface of the test article togenerate an electrical frequency signal indication of the lines, meansto amplify the frequency signal, and a filter actuated only by a properfrequency signal from the signal amplification generation meansoperatively connected thereto to indicate an authentication.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 and where said filter includes a coilmeans receiving said amplified signal, and a frequency selective switchoperatively connected to said coil means.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 where the filter includes a metal reedwhich has a mechanical resonant period so as to be readily excited intoresonance by a proper frequency signal.

1. Apparatus to detect authenticity of paper documents having at leastone section of uniformly spaced surface bumps or contours, whichapparatus comprises a frame defining a testing area, electromechanicaltransducer means positioned within the testing area adapted to engagethe surface of a document entering therein and produce a signalindication thereof, means to carry a document and effect relativeuniform movement between the document and the transducer means in thetesting area, means to generate an audio frequency signal from thesignal indication of thE transducer means, and an electromechanicalfilter including an audio frequency sensitive switch actuated by aproper frequency signal from the last said means to indicate anauthentication.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 where the means tocarry the document and effect relative uniform movement comprises adocument-carrying frame, a screw threadably received by the frame, motormeans to rotatably drive the screw to effect translational uniformmovement of the frame relative to the screw, and means to effectreversible control and stopping action of the motor occasioned by themovement of the frame.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 where theelectromechanical transducer means is a piezoelectric needle pickupwhich includes an amplifier to effect amplification of the electricalsignal from the piezoelectric needle pickup.
 4. Apparatus to detectauthenticity of paper documents having at least one section of uniformlyspaced surface bumps or contours, which apparatus comprises a framedefining a testing area, electromechanical transducer means positionedwithin the testing area adapted to engage the surface of a documententering therein and produce a signal indication thereof, means to carrya document and effect relative uniform movement between the document andthe transducer means in the testing area, means to generate a frequencysignal from the signal indication of the transducer means, and afrequency sensitive switch actuated by a proper frequency signal fromthe last said means to indicate an authentication, thefrequency-sensitive switch being a reed which has a mechanical resonantperiod so as to be readily excited into resonance by a proper frequencysignal.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4 where the reed is made ofspring steel, and its natural predetermined period of resonance isdetermined by the rate of relative movement between the document and thepiezoelectric pickup needle, and the spacing of the lines in theportrait background section of the type document which is to be engagedby the pickup needle.
 6. Apparatus to detect authenticity of a testarticle having at least one section of uniformly spaced bumps orcontours on the surface thereof which are at least slightly raised withrespect to the surface thereof which comprises a frame to carry a testarticle, an electromechanical transducer means having a pickup needleadapted to engage the surface of the test article, means to effectrelative uniform movement between the frame and the transducer means tohave the pickup needle pass over the uniformly spaced bumps or contourson the surface of the test article to generate an electrical frequencysignal indication of the lines, means to amplify the frequency signal,and a filter actuated only by a proper frequency signal from the signalamplification generation means operatively connected thereto to indicatean authentication.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 and where saidfilter includes a coil means receiving said amplified signal, and afrequency selective switch operatively connected to said coil means. 8.Apparatus according to claim 6 where the filter includes a metal reedwhich has a mechanical resonant period so as to be readily excited intoresonance by a proper frequency signal.